Theus calls loss to Wizards 'just an absolute breakdown'

There were notes on the white board in the Kings' locker room reminding players of the game plan in red, blue and black markings. Those messages were printed and placed at each player's locker. Coach Reggie Theus continuously yelled the plays at courtside before dropping to the court, his head in his hands.

Nothing worked.

Miscommunications and defensive lapses littered the second half as the Kings surrendered a 16-point lead, and the Washington Wizards picked up a 114-108 win Friday in front of an announced crowd of 14,061 at Arco Arena.

"Just an absolute breakdown," Theus said. "You can only tell the guys what to do and show them on the board what to do; they have to execute it during the game."

Instead, the Kings fell apart in the second half, allowing Washington to go on a 23-9 run that culminated in a 35-21 third-quarter advantage. The Wizards took back the lead that the Kings held for most of the first half after Darius Songaila's three-point play put Washington ahead 82-79 entering the fourth quarter.

The Kings fell behind 92-81 2:19 into the final quarter after three-pointers from the Wizards' Roger Mason and Antawn Jamison. The home team fought back with a 13-4 run, but Washington followed up with a 5-0 run to lead 101-94 with 4:45 remaining.

The Kings shot 35 percent from the field in the fourth quarter (7 for 20).

"It's lack of leadership on the floor, that's what it is," Theus said. "When things start going south, you have to have someone on the team that steps up and grabs hold of the team and says, 'Hey guys, this is what we're going to do and this is how we're going to get it done,' outside of what we're talking about as coaches."

Kevin Martin said he agreed "100 percent" that the team lacked leadership.

"There were times when we should have come together tonight and we didn't," said Martin, who finished with 25 points off 6-for-11 shooting from the field and four assists. "It was definitely a second-half breakdown. The third quarter just turned the game around."

Ron Artest scored a game-high 28 points on 10-for-22 shooting.

Jamison led Washington with his 42nd double double of the season, scoring 25 points and collecting 12 rebounds. Washington outrebounded the Kings 42-39.

"We kind of lost a little focus," said Brad Miller, who scored 10 points and had eight rebounds. "Obviously, we were trying to do some things and it just wasn't executing."

Mikki Moore was ejected with 7:27 remaining in the third quarter. Theus and several players called that a turning point.

"I saw our energy level drop after Mikki Moore went out of the game and it kind of just snowballed from there," Theus said. "He was playing well, we were playing well with him in the game and it hurt us. That was a big turning point in the game."

Moore was ejected after arguing a foul and receiving two technicals. He finished with two points off 1-for-2 shooting from the field and four rebounds in 13 minutes.

"It was one of those kind of nights where it seems like everybody had something else on their mind, something else that they were thinking about doing," Theus said.

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521.